AK-100 (rifle family)
Assault rifle and carbine series of firearms
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The AK-100 family is a series of Kalashnikov rifles, based upon the AK-74M, intended for export sales.[1] The family of rifles offers the AK-74M system, in multiple cartridges and lengths.[2]
AK-100 series
The original AK-100 series rifles were officially offered for export since March 1993[3] and are categorized by all having black polymer handguards, folding polymer stocks, and use of AK-74M internal systems. Parts are highly interchangeable.[4]
Even with those differences all of the rifles are made to similar specifications.[4]
- Both long rifles had a barrel length of 415 mm, and all the carbines had a barrel length of 314 mm.[4]
- Both long rifles (unloaded) weighted 3.6 kg, and all the carbines: 3.2 kg.[4]
- All the rifles had a selector for with: safe, semi auto, or full auto. Also, both long rifles also had a variant with 3 round burst called AK-10X-3 and a semi auto only variant called AK-10X-1[5]
Rifles in the 100 series have been exported to and/or adopted by a variety of countries, notably: Armenia, Cyprus, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Syria, Uruguay, and Venezuela.[6]
The AK-105 has also seen some domestic use, filling a niche role as a middle ground between the AK-74M and AKS-74U.[7][8][9]
Related development
Later Kalashnikov started offering the AK-107 / AK-108 (in order 5.45×39, 5.56×45) models. Externally they are very similar to the AK-100 series (with some minor differences) and are offered in the same calibers. Internally they use a radically different gas system and incorporate the Balanced Automatics Recoil System (BARS).
AK-100M/200 series
The AK-100M/AK-200 rifle family was initially conceived around 2009 as an improved variant of the basic AK-100 series. The development of the AK-100M/AK-200 family was stopped around 2011 but resumed around 2016. In 2017, Kalashnikov unveiled the modernized versions of the AK-100 family of rifles. Main key takeaways compared to the AK-100 variants is the additional picatinny rails, accurized barrel, improved flash hider device, pinned barrel components instead of pressed in. Additionally, the handguard possesses 4 rails instead of two, with a rail on the top of the dustcover, which is hinged. Overall, it is considerably designed to use modern optics compared to its predecessor.[10]
As of 2018, the AK-200 series rifles are offered for export sales and for domestic law enforcement users in Russia.[11][12][13][14] The AK-200 series are based on the AK-100 series and the AK-12. They can be chambered in 5.45×39mm, 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×39mm, and use a barrel and gas system assembly and iron sights line similar to that of the AK-74M/AK-100 rifle family. Improvements added from the AK-12 include Picatinny rails, a new pistol grip, a new adjustable buttstock and a new flash hider.[15] They feed from 30-round magazines, and are compatible with drum magazines from the RPK and RPK-74.[16]
The models of the AK-200 series are:
On 3 March 2019, Russia and India inaugurated Indo-Russia Rifles in Uttar Pradesh, India to produce AK-203 assault rifles.[17][18] However, no contract had been signed then or rifles produced because of pricing disagreements.[19][20] India signed a contract in August 2021 to directly import 70,000 AK-203 rifles from Russia.[21][22] Russia and India on December 6, 2021, finally signed a contract on the delivery of over 600,000 7.62mm AK-203 assault rifles that will be produced on India's soil to the republic's Defense Ministry.[23]
Users
Algeria: AK-103: Used by the Parachute Commando Regiments[24]
Armenia: AK-103: The licensed production of the AK-103 started in July 2020.[25] AK-105[26]
Azerbaijan: AK-105: Used by the State Border Service.[27]
Brazil: AK-105: Brazilian military and law enforcement have adopted the AK-105 as it is suitable for urban and counter-narcotics operations.[28]
Ethiopia: AK-103: The Gafat Armament Engineering Complex produces the AK-103 rifle in Ethiopia. Supplements the AKM and AK-47 in the Ethiopian Armed Forces. It was reported in 2014 that the deal didn't go through at all.[29]
Fiji: AK-101[30]
India: AK-103: Used by the MARCOS of the Indian Navy and 70k were ordered by the Indian Air Force.[31]
Indonesia: AK-101: Indonesian Marine Corps[32] and the Mobile Brigade Corps.[33] AK-102: 5,000 AK-101 and AK-102s used by government for Operation Madago Raya.[34]
Iran: AK-103: The sale of an undisclosed number of AK-103s for use by sections of the Iranian special forces and marines and use by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps special forces was reported.[35] The IRGC is reported to be using the AK-103.[36]
Kazakhstan: AK-105: The Kazakh military use the AK-105 as a standard-issue carbine rifle.[28]
Kenya: AK-101[37]
Libya: AK-103: Seen in the hands of anti-Gaddafi forces and loyalists in numerous photos. The rifles in use are the AK-103-2 version.[38]
Malaysia: AK-102: Limited use by the Royal Malaysian Navy's PASKAL.[27]
Maldives: AK-103: Used by Maldives National Defence Force[39]
Namibia: AK-103: Used by Namibian Marine Corps[40] AK-105: Used by Namibian Marine Corps[41]
North Korea: AK-105: Produced locally as an unlicensed copy, the Type 88 carbine, used by Special Operations Forces and armored crews.[42]
Pakistan: AK-103: Unlicensed Clone "PK-21" in production by Pakistan Ordnance Factories.[43]
Palestine: AK-103: Used by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.[44]
Russia: AK-103: Used by Spetsnaz GRU, SSO, selective VDV and Russian Naval Infantry units, Wagner Group, Alpha Group and Police / Spetsnaz units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.[27] AK-104: Used by the Russian Federal Protective Service.[45] AK-105: In service with the Russian Army,[46] and limited use within the Ministry of Internal Affairs[47] and other law enforcement,[48] including Alpha Group of the Federal Security Service (FSB).[49]
Saudi Arabia: AK-103:[50] A license to produce AK-103 rifles was granted to Saudi Arabia in 2017.[51][52][53]
Syria: AK-103: Captured from rebels. Used by the Syrian Arab Army.[54] AK-104: A batch of AK-104's have reportedly been delivered to Syria's Interior Ministry Anti-Terrorism Syrian Special Mission Forces in the Eastern Ghouta front in Rif Dimashq.[55] AK-105: Used by some Syrian special forces.[56]
Thailand: AK-102: Used by Volunteer Defense Corps[57] AK-104: Directorate of Logistics procured from Russian Federation.[58]
Uruguay: AK-101[59] AK-103: 500 AK-103s for the Uruguayan National Guard.[59]
Venezuela: AK-103: First 30,000 AK-103 rifles were received in June 2006.[60] Made under license by CAVIM.[61] CAVIM's AK-103 factories opened officially in 2012 without the necessary manufacturing equipment.[62] CAVIM-made AK-103s were delivered to the Venezuelan Army in 2013.[63] Due to trouble with the plant with the Russian contractor failing to meet deadlines with a case of fraud, which forced CAVIM to finish the rest of the construction with manufacturing to start by 2019,[64] full-scale production of ammunition started in July 2025 with a capacity of 70 million rounds a year.[65][66] AK-104: Produced under license by CAVIM alongside the AK-103.[67]
Yemen: AK-103: AK-103s made in Yemen as reported in February 2022.[68] AK-104: In service with some units of the Yemeni Army.[27]
Non-state actors
Hezbollah: AK-103: AK-103s recovered by the IDF.[69]
Hurras al-Din: AK-103[70]
Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa: AK-103: Used an ex-Libyan AK-103-2 in Agadez and Arlit attacks in 2013.[71]
